Hand implement.



G. P.'BILSON.

HAND IMPLEMENT. A 'LIQATION FILED NOV. gs, 1913.

l 9 I], 4 470, Patented July 21, 1914.

In 7/677. for,

CHRISTIAN P. BILSGN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

HAND IMPLEMENT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July at, 1914:.

Application filed November 28, 1913. Serial No. 803,594.

To (ZZZ whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHRISTIAN P. Binsoiv, acitizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cookand State of, Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements inHand Implements, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, andexact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawing,forming a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in hand implements one use forwhich it is adapted being that of a corn picker.

A further object is the production of a device in which removablegripping means may be applied to the device to adapt it for use forvarious purposes.

A further object is the production of a device that can be readilyassembled and cheaply manufactured and one that is not liable to get outof order.

These and other objects are attained by my device, one embodiment ofwhich is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1represents a side elevation of my device; Fig. 2 represents a top planview of the gripping end of my device; Fig. 8 represents a sectionalview on the line 3-3 of Fig. 9, looking in the direction indicated bythe arrows; Fig. 4: represents a sectional view on the line a d of Fig.1 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows, and Fig. 5represents a plan view of another form of gripping plate.

Like numerals indicate like parts in the various figures of thedrawings.

-Referring now to the drawings, 6, 7, represent handle bars formed ofany material, preferably, however, of wood, and made of exactly the sameshape, one end of each, 8, being curved as indicated in the drawings.These members are assembled in a tong-like shape, the curved endsoppositely disposed toward each other, and the members are held togetherby a pivoted bolt 9 having a screw end 10 surrounded by bushing 11, thebushing being very advantageous in preventing the wear of the members.The members are normally held apart by suitable spring means, thatindicated in the drawings being a bolt passing through the membersbetween the pivotal point and the ends and having a spring 13 mountedupon said bolt between the arms.

A thumb screw 14 is provided, so that the limit of the spring may bevaried at will. Suitable handles 15, 16 are secured to the inner ends ofthe arms making it easier to grip the device and operate it in a moste'l'licient manner.

A pair of gripping plates, 17, 18 slightly curved at their ends, asindicated at 19 in Fig. 3, are removably secured to the end of the armsnear their outer extremities. The preferred means of securing theseplates in place is to provide the plates with counter-sunk holes, 20,through which a bolt 21 is passed, extending through the arms, 6, 7, andprovided with a nut or retaining means 22 on the end. Between the nutand the arm a long washer or strip 23 is pro vided which is turned downas indicated at 24 against the sides of the arm holding the grippingplate in place. I preferably provide two of these securing means inplates of ordinary size and may of course adopt other means of holdingthe plates in place than those illustrated in the drawings. Of course,it is evident that securing means of this character serve to strengthenand stiffen the arms and prevent them from splitting or breaking when inuse.

It will be noted that the spring 13 normally holds the arms apart sothat when the device is in use and the gripping plates are in positionon either side of an ear of corn or object to be picked up, a slightmovement of the thumb causes the gripping members to grasp the earfirmly. The ear is then elevated with a swinging motion and at theproper time the pressure of the thumb released, permitting the corn toslide out and be deposited in any desired receptacle.

It is of course clear that while the two forms of gripping meansillustrated can be used for various purposes, other gripping plates maybe substituted if desired when the device is to be used for specialpurposes. In some instances the gripping plates should be padded toprevent injury to articles in connection with which the device is used;for instance, in picking up potatoes from the field or fruit from thetrees, the plates should be of a different form and preferably padded.

I have illustrated the device with the arms formed of wood, as hard woodof a tough character is comparatively light and forms an eflicientmaterial for this portion of the device. Of course it is understood,however, that I do not limit myself to wood, as a portion or all of thedevice may be made of metal in certain instances, if it is thought thatsuch material is better adapted to the uses to which the device would beput.

By the use of the two handles, 15, 16, great freedom of movement isinsured as the hand passes through the handle while the thumb grasps thehandle 16, thus preventing any danger of the device slipping from thehand when releasing articles from the gripping means, and at the sametime the handle confines the hand and makes it unnecessary for theoperator to pay much attention, to holding the device to prevent it fromslipping out of the hand.

The device was originally designed with a view of following the cornharvester and recovering the numerous ears of corn that are droppedbetween the hills, but, as outlined above,there are numerous other usesto which the device may be put Without material alteration of the designas illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

I claim: In an implement of the class described, a pair of crossedlevers pivoted together at the point of intersection, a pair ofarticle-grasping plates at one end of the levers, these plates beingarranged to face inwardly and converge toward their outer ends, a pairof handles atvthe opposite ends of the levers, these handles extendingin the same direction from the sides of the levers, a spring fornormially separating the article-engaging end of the levers, and meansfor regulating the distance the levers are normally spread, for thepurpose set forth.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name in thepresence oftwo witnesses.

CHRISTIAN P. BILSON.

Witnesses:

F H. DRURY, ANNE SOLOMON.

Copies 01' this patent nily be obtai'ned' for five cents each, byaddressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washizfgtdn; D. 0.

